Health Promotion

The Health Promotion team is comprised of professional staff, student workers and student volunteers who work together to encourage undergraduate and graduate students to make healthy choices that will enhance their academic performance. The mission of Health Promotion is to develop programs that:

Provide students with accurate information and skills necessary to make healthy life choices;

Create campus and community environments that encourage healthy life choices; and

Connect students to resources such as medical providers, counselors, health educators, dietitians and peer organizations.

Health Services

The Health Center provides basic medical treatment and prevention services provided by board-certified physicians and certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Staff and peer health educators also provide information on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, sexual health, stress management, nutrition, body image and smoking cessation. We encourage students to become active partners in promoting their own health and well-being.

Services include: consultation with medical service providers for injury, illness, or chronic health conditions; laboratory testing; medications, immunizations and injections; and health and wellness education. Core services are covered by student services fee and campus health fee and are provided at no cost. There may be a cost for some laboratory work, radiology, medications and immunizations.

Eligibility for Services

All registered graduate and undergraduate students may use the Health Center and Health Promotion services even if they opt out of the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). All services are confidential and offered to registered students. The H. Rajender Reddy Health Center houses the Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services in the Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center.

Medical Insurance

All registered graduate and undergraduate students attending the UC are required to have major medical health insurance as a non-academic condition of enrollment. Unless a student shows proof of prior insurance coverage and requests a waiver by the posted deadline, the student is automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) and billed through the student’s account. UC SHIP offers comprehensive and affordable health insurance. It supplements the Health Center’s medical services and provides for extended medical care, emergency services, hospitalization, specialty care and out-of-area care. The program fee covers the cost of the medical, dental and vision insurance plan and program administration. A student who is covered by another health insurance may waive UC SHIP by demonstrating that their coverage is comparable to that provided under UC SHIP. The student must apply for a waiver by the specified deadline. All registered students are eligible to utilize the campus health center even if UC SHIP is waived. For information on insurance, including the waiver process and deadline, refer to the Health Services web page at health.ucmerced.edu/insurance or contact insurance@ucmerced.edu.

Mandatory Hepatitis B and MMR Requirement and Optional Immunizations

The California State Health & Safety Code mandates that all students entering the University of California who are under the age of 19 years old must be immunized against or provide proof of immunity from the Hepatitis B virus prior to enrollment. In addition, UC Merced requires that all entering students have received the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. Students must provide Health Services with documentation demonstrating compliance with these immunization requirements prior to registration. Students should enter their immunization history on our secure web server at myhealth.ucmerced.edu and send a copy of their immunization card(s) to Health Services for verification.

The Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (www.cdc.gov) and the American College Health Association (www.acha.org) recommend the following additional immunizations for college students.

Hepatitis A. Given as series of two doses for adolescents and adult high-risk groups.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV). Recommended for all females 11 to 26 and all males 11-21 years old, males 11-26 who have had sex with men and 11-26 year old males with compromised immune system for the prevention of cervical cancers, pre-cancers and genital warts.

Seasonal Influenza (Flu Shot). Given annually to registered students for free through the UCM Health Center.

Menactra vaccine (for meningitis). Recommended for high risk students, students living in dorms on campus and as a consideration for all college students.

Pneumococcal for young adults with certain medical conditions - chronic pulmonary disease (asthma or history of smoking for college students ages 19 to 64 years old).

Polio for international travel to areas where polio is epidemic or endemic.

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (TDaP). One dose of Tdap for all individuals ages 11-64 regardless of interval since last booster.

Varicella (chickenpox). Given as series of two doses one month apart for those who never had chickenpox or if a blood test does not show immunity.